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December 21, 2009
The Right Way to Travel
Holiday Travel, Writing, or Photo Tip #6
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Dear Reader,
It’s sometimes hard to know if you’re getting the best deal on a hotel room. Holiday Tip #6 is a profile of five of the best hotel rewards programs so you’ll at least move toward a free night’s stay, faster...
*** hotels.com - Welcome Rewards ***
Why we like it: Because 10 nights in a $40/night hotel can get you a free night at a $400 hotel. And you’re not limited to any particular hotel chain.
Simply book 10 nights through their website and you’ll get a credit for one night free. As long as you spend more than $40/night on your first 10 hotel stays, and you don’t use any kind of coupon or vacation discount package to build up to those 10 nights, your 11th stay can be anywhere you choose (up to a $400/night). You’ll find more details, here.
*** Hilton Hotels - HHonors ***
Why we like it: Double Dipping -- you can earn hotel points and air miles at the same time.
Earn HHonors points plus air miles in exchange for hotel stays and other dollars spent at Hilton hotels. You’ll find more details, here.
*** InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG) - Priority Club Rewards ***
Why we like it: In addition to earning points for hotel stays, you can also earn points by shopping at selected retailers. AND, you don’t have to cash in your points for more stays. You can also apply your points toward air miles, car rentals, and more.
Overstock.com, Nordstrom.com, BarnesandNoble.com, Macys.com, Sears.com, and OmahaSteaks.com, are all participating retailers that can earn you Priority Club Points for purchases. Visit here for details.
*** Marriott Hotels - Marriott Rewards ***
Why we like it: Marriott’s program also includes “Rewarding Events,” which can earn you up to 50,000 points toward free stays and merchandise when you book group events through Marriott. Nominate yourself to plan the next family reunion, wedding, or girlfriend getaway and you could earn big.
Earn 10 points or two air miles per dollar spent at Marriott Hotels and Resorts. You’ll earn points for your dollars spent at Renaissance, Courtyard, Residence Inn, and other partners. You can also earn points for dollars you spend at the Marriott Rewards Mall or SkyMall. Then you can use your points for free nights.
Details, here.
*** Starwood Hotels - Starwood Preferred Guest ***
Why we like it: It usually only takes three stays in a Starwood Hotel to earn enough points for one free night. They also have a deal going on through December 31: Book any night at the regular rate and get the second night for 50% off.
Earn “Starpoints” for every dollar you spend in participating hotels and use them to get free nights, air miles, merchandise vouchers, and tickets to events. You can also opt for a “Cash and Points” deal. For example, you can pay $25 plus 1,200 Starpoints to stay one night at Le Méridien Jakarta, in Indonesia.
More details, here.
[BONUS TIP: Another way to get good deals on hotels is to go with a group of people and book a discounted group rate. And if you have a big enough group, you can do the same on cruises... sometimes even cruise for free. Cynthia Morris travels for free (and gets paid well for it, too) by organizing group tours to places she loves -- like Paris. Find out how to create your own tours for fun and profit.
And don’t forget to go see what’s on sale on our catalog page. You can save up to 50% on our most popular travel writing and photography resources... and get FREE shipping, too.]
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